Ouachita Stories

Four Ouachita Baptist University faculty and staff members with more than a century of combined service to OBU will be honored at a retirement reception April 29 at 3:30 p.m. in Ouachita's Walker Conference Center.

The four honorees include Alex Nisbet, professor of chemistry, who has served at Ouachita since 1963; Rosemary Chu, head resident at Frances Crawford Hall West since 1967; Troy Garlin, assistant professor of education, who served in an adjunct role beginning in 1996 and has been a full-time faculty member since 1999; and Ricky Robbins, who has served on the physical plant staff since 1998.

"Our great strength year after year centers in the commitment of our faculty and staff to Ouachita," said OBU President Rex M. Horne Jr. "The four who are retiring this year illustrate this perfectly. Two are in the classroom, one has helped keep this place going and then there is everyone's Mom Chu. I pray God will bless them with life and wonderful memories of Ouachita. We will not forget."

Dr. Nisbet, Ouachita's longest-serving faculty member, has taught thousands of students in his chemistry classroom and laboratory. Nisbet, who holds both a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin, has served at Ouachita throughout his 46-year teaching career.

Rosemary Chu, affectionately known to the university community as "Mom Chu," has served in the same position as a hall director since Frances Crawford opened in January 1967. Chu, who attended Wittenberg University in Ohio, came to Ouachita in 1963 with her husband, Finley Chu. Her husband, who served as chair of OBU's economics and business department, died of cancer four years later. Mom Chu has served on the Ouachita staff ever since.

Garlin, assistant professor of education, has served as the director of student teaching and chair of the education department. A graduate of Arkansas State University and the University of Montana, he previously served as principal of Arkadelphia High School as well as schools in Pulaski County and Conway.

Robbins served as a cabinet maker on OBU's physical plant staff. He also did painting and other campus maintenance projects. Robbins, who previously was self-employed, also served as an engineer tech. He is a military veteran and serves as a volunteer firefighter.

The Wednesday afternoon retirement reception on the Ouachita campus will be held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. It is open to the general public as well as OBU students, faculty and staff. For more information, contact Phil Hardin, assistant to the president, at (870) 245-5405.

By Trennis Henderson, OBU Vice President for Communications